One of the most noteworthy new entrepreneurs of this 21st century, Elon Musk, has just announced a breakthrough in battery technology. I can distinctly remember my own early days in the 1700s, when I tried hooking up a number of primitive Leyden jars (the predecessor of today’s battery) together in a series, as a way of increasing the electricity I had available in order to conduct my experiments.
Back then, of course, we could barely muster enough power to do anything. Compare that to today, when it is possible to operate this amazing invention you call an automobile from battery power!
Well, Mr. Musk, one of the people behind Tesla Motors, the electric car company, now informs us that he has developed an extremely large battery that he says can power an entire house. The idea behind it is that one would store up all the electricity provided by a power company during the evenings, when it is cheaper, and then use the “home battery” to power your residence during the day, when electricity is more expensive.
Another possibility could be using this battery in conjunction with solar panels, so that electricity generated during the day from the sun could be stored up in the battery for use later.
He estimates that the home battery could save people up to 25% on their electric bills — and even lessen their dependence on traditional electric power companies.
Who could ever imagine that my humble experiment with a kite, a key, and a bolt of lightning would lead to something as mind-boggling and wonderful as this miraculous new invention from Mr. Musk’s company!
If you’d like to learn more about this “home battery,” I understand that you can use the internet to call up stories like the one at http://money.cnn.com/2015/05/01/technology/tesla-powerwall-battery-product/.
Well done, Mr. Musk! As one of this country’s first scientists and inventors, I applaud you!
Your humble servant,
B.Franklin